Remember the Recalls When Toy Shopping

Safe Kids Kansas offers toy safety reminders

With more than 65 percent of the toys bought in the United States between the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas, parents and caregivers are heading into the country’s busiest toy-buying season.

But with millions of toys being recalled because of dangerous lead paint and magnets, toy shoppers need to remember that number is a small fraction of the overall number of toys -- approximately 3 billion -- sold in the United States every year. “Shoppers need to be even more informed than usual to make sure they buy safe, age-appropriate toys, said Jan Stegelman, Safe Kids Kansas coordinator. “Even though most toys in the U.S. today are considered to be safe, it doesn’t mean we should throw caution to the wind.”

Email alerts keep shoppers up-to-date on recalls

Each year, approximately 217,000 toy-related injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms nationwide. But on average, only 15 children under the age of 14 die from a toy-related injury.

To stay informed, Stegelman recommends that parents sign up for emails that will keep them up-to-date on recalls. “If you get emails each time a recall happens, you’ll have everything up-to-the-minute and won’t need to worry about missing anything,” said Stegelman.

To sign up for recall emails, go to www.cpsc.gov and click on ‘Sign up for Email Announcements.’

Parents and caregivers shouldn’t hesitate to report defects or design features that seem dangerous. “If your child has a close call, the next child might not be so lucky,” says Stegelman. “Report safety concerns about toys to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov. Your experience could be part of a pattern that might lead to a recall.

Avoid second-hand toys

Stegelman reminds parents that most toys are safe, especially if you buy from a reputable retailer. “That doesn’t mean you have to go to a ‘big box’ store, but if you shop a locally-owned toy store, make sure that the owner is aware and vigilant about getting recalled items off the shelves. And avoid used toys which could have been recalled and not removed from circulation.”

“If you buy toys secondhand or get hand-me-downs, visit www.cpsc.gov to make sure the toy hasn’t been recalled for safety reasons,” says Stegelman. “If a new toy comes with a product registration card, mail it in right away so the manufacturer can contact you if the item is ever recalled.”

Other precautions to take

Safe Kids Kansas also recommends:

Make sure to buy age-appropriate toys. All toys are clearly marked if they have small parts; do not buy toys with small parts for children younger than age 3 (or allow a child under age 3 to play with those kinds of toys belonging to an older sibling). Avoid building sets with small magnets for children under age 6.

Identify dangerous small parts. To be sure of a toy’s size, use a small parts tester (available in quantity from the Safe Kids Resource Catalog) or the cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper to identify choking hazards. Do not let small children play with anything that can fit into one of these cylinders.

Buy the proper safety gear. If you purchase a riding toy, such as a scooter, skateboard, in-line skates or bicycle, remember that the gift isn’t complete without a helmet and appropriate protective gear. Riding toys should not be used near vehicle traffic, stairs, swimming pools or bodies of water.

Inspect toys to make sure they are in good repair. Check children’s play areas for missing or dislodged parts (such as magnets). Do not let young children play with toys that have straps, cords or strings longer than 7 inches, due to the risk of strangulation.

Actively supervise children. Caregivers should actively supervise children playing with any toy that has small parts, moving parts, electrical or battery power, cords, wheels or any other potentially risky component. Simply being in the same room as your child is not necessarily supervising. Active supervision means keeping the child in sight and in reach and paying undivided attention.

Practice proper storage. Teach children to put toys away after playing to help prevent falls and unsupervised play, and make sure toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children. Toy chests should be equipped or retrofitted with safety hinges that prevent the lid from closing on a child who is leaning over the open chest; if a chest does not have safety hinges, remove the lid.